“And a lot of enemies.”
They two continued their conversation, but they were too far away for Kiril to hear the rest. It seemed that Balladyn’s appearance was causing quite the stir. Dark Fae from all over Cork were coming to an Doras.
“Oh, please let it be him,” said a whiney female voice coming closer with every word.
Kiril remained still as he focused on the conversation.
“It is,” said another female, with a husky voice. “I know it. He’s going to be mine.”
A third snorted. “I heard he’s found his woman.”
“Who?” demanded the second as they walked past the alley.
The first smiled excitedly. “Yes, who?”
“Farrell’s sister, Shara,” stated the third.
Kiril stopped listening. He wanted to rip something apart, to shift into dragon form and let loose a ball of fire right at the pub. So what if Shara was with Balladyn? He’d had one night with her. It hadn’t meant anything.
Liar.
*
“My father hasn’t given permission,” Farrell told Balladyn. “He’s head of the family and ultimately decides who Shara will marry. It won’t be you.”
Shara sipped her whisky. For the first time, she knew Farrell wasn’t going to win. And neither was her father. It was hard not to contain her joy or the smile that threatened. Would they feel as helpless as she had? Would they know the futile fury that nestled like a cold mass in their gut? She hoped so, especially when it came to Farrell. He was a weasel, a bastard of the first order.
“Is that right?” Balladyn said and faced Farrell. “You think you’re someone important because of your family.”
Farrell gloated, his smile cruel. “I know I am. No one goes against a Blackwood.”
“And who is Taraeth’s right hand? Who commands the respect of the Dark army? Who is undefeated?”
“That will change soon enough,” Farrell stated confidently.
Balladyn grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. In the short amount of time Shara had been with him, she knew it was a sign that he had almost reached his limit. Her brother, the dumbass, didn’t know that.
Farrell thumbed his nose at her. “Besides, I thought after what I told you about her that you would know enough to stay away. It’s a matter of time before I get to kill her.”
“How many others have you told your family’s secret to?” Balladyn asked in a quiet voice, belying the fury she could sense.
Farrell shrugged, uncaring that he was treading on thin ice.
Balladyn closed the small distance between them until he was glaring down at Farrell. “How. Many?”
“Enough to make sure that stupid bitch is forever alone.”
The whisky glass slipped from her numb fingers to shatter on the floor. Her secret that was never supposed to leave the family had been bandied about all over Cork. Shara felt sick.
But she was also furious.
“You gave your word to Father,” she told Farrell. “You betrayed him, me, and the entire family.”
Farrell roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the chair yelling, “He should’ve let me kill you!”
Whatever else he was going to say was cut off when Balladyn slammed a fist into his jaw. Farrell crashed to the ground, pulling her with him since he still had ahold of her arm.
Balladyn gently pulled her up and sat her in the chair. Then he turned back to Farrell. “As Shara said, you’ve betrayed your family. That is unforgiveable for a Dark.”
Farrell was holding his jaw as he leaned up on one elbow, blood seeping from his busted lip. “It’s accepted when it’s deserved.”
“And you thinking you could capture a Dragon King all by yourself?”
At that, Farrell climbed to his feet. “I will succeed. I was gaining ground.”
“By having drinks with him?”
“Shara was seducing him.”
She wanted to kick Farrell in the balls. Didn’t he ever know when to keep his mouth shut?
Balladyn’s gaze slowly turned to her. There was murder in his eyes—for her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“You know this Dragon King?” Balladyn asked in a frosty tone that threatened to suck all of Shara’s courage from her.
She refused to cower to Balladyn. He could kill her with one blast of magic. How could she have even considered him her salvation?
“Yes,” she answered.
Balladyn faced her, his red gaze promising pain for her omission. He lowered his chin, his lips pulled back in a vicious sneer. “Who is he?”
Shara parted her lips, her mind rushing with options when Farrell chuckled loudly. Balladyn’s gaze slid to him, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Farrell leaned on the bar behind Shara’s chair grinning like a cat that had gotten into the cream. “The bitch knows to keep her mouth shut. The Dragon King is ours to take.”